As chief executive officer of Medweb, Peter Killcommons, MD, oversees the company's telemedicine operations. A burgeoning field, telemedicine involves transmitting medical information by electronic means with the express purpose of improving patient care. Business people and medical professionals like Dr. Killcommons advocate the use of telemedicine for the potential benefits it may yield for health systems around the world.

One such benefit centers on cost. Research has shown that telemedicine reduces health care expenses by cutting travel times, diminishing hospital stays, and even promoting enhanced chronic disease management. Also, telemedicine satisfies consumer demand. With a fully functional telemedicine infrastructure, patients may not need to incur the cost of long-distance travel to access their doctor, and research demonstrates that telemedicine yields results as good as or better than traditional in-person health care.

Telemedical services encompass a wide range of solutions, including the storage and transmission of video clips and diagnostic images. It can also mean doctors consulting with one another through live video conferencing. Further, telemedical techniques can involve remote patient monitoring and using technology to send health data to various facilities for interpretation.                            

Peter Killcommons, MD, is an expert in medical imaging and telemedicine. Dr. Peter Killcommons serves as CEO of Medweb, an industry leader in telemedicine. In addition to his work in telemedicine, Dr. Pete Killcommons is a volunteer pilot on the disaster response team of the National Institute of Urban Search and Rescue.

The National Institute of Urban Search and Rescue (NIUSR) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving disaster readiness and response across the nation. In March of 2012, the organization recognized Alan Bersin for his work as commissioner of the United States Customs and Border Protection. While serving as commissioner, Mr. Bersin made significant progress in redefining the role of customs and border protection in securing flows of people and goods entering the United States. Mr. Bersin has built relationships with a number of independent agencies, including the NIUSR, in an effort to collaborate on matters involving national security. His work has been essential in improving disaster preparedness through collaboration and mutual understanding.